Hello- Just after 10:30pm last night, BNSF's "Longmont Turn" derailed on the Front Range Sub in Westminster, CO. The Turn reportedly hit a tree stump that appeared to have been laid across the tracks deliberately! After pushing the stump about a quarter of a mile, the train derailed. The lead unit, BNSF 8105, stayed mostly upright. The next four units all fell completely on their sides. The units involved were: BNSF 8105 (SD60M) BNSF 9801 (SD70MAC) BNSF 143 (GP60M) OMLX 1451 (SW14) The OmniTRAX switcher (OMLX 1451) was on its way back to Loveland, CO after being used as a temporary switcher at the Coors Brewery in Golden, CO. Reports indicate that 17 cars derailed. The cars were mainly carrying lumber, grain and building materials. BNSF is working hard right now to get the mess cleaned up and get the line reopened. Trains headed north out of Denver will be rerouted on the Brush Subdivision (if necessary). Images attached: 1. BNSF 8105 leaning at an unpleasant angle, close to the big fill at MP 11. 2. BNSF 9801, an SD70MAC, was completely on its side. Note the news vans along Wadsworth Blvd in the background. 3. A look at the front of the pile up. Mainly wood and grain scattered on the ground. OMLX 1451 is perpendicular to the tracks. Additional images available on my website here: http://www.coloradorailfan.com/gallery/gallery.asp?on=20080610&by=KM
What a mess.... I hope the clowns that did this are caught swiftly. I'll bet it was a high school prank.
Derailment Update According to the crew, the tree stump was in the tracks about a quarter of a mile south of the derailment site. The stump got caught under the lead locomotive, but the train continue (as the crew put the train in emergency). The big problem was the switch that leads to the old Homestead House Furniture store. The stump picked the switch and derailed the lead unit (and of course, all subsequent units). I'll make sure to post more details (as they come in) regarding the stump (deliberate or not). Amazing nobody was seriously injured.
Wow. I did some dumb stuff in high school, like teepee houses or throw eggs, but never tried to kill anyone, let alone cause damages in 6 to 7 figures. Unbelievable if deliberate. :thumbs_down:
Great Pics, Kevin! Thanks, Kevin, for taking and posting the pictures! :tb-cool: I have more information on my blog including a link to Kevin's second round of pictures taken this afternoon, and links to the news stories and footage although no one has new leads on who did it.
I don't know what the speeds are on that line, however does any one know how long the train was or how fast it was going? I know trains don't stop on a dime but if going slow enough could they have stopped before that switch? Not implying it was the crews fault, just asking.
I'd venture a guess on the speed limit on that track as 35 MPH. Maybe 40. At any rate, I'll bet when the crew saw the stump (in a curve), it was much too late.
It takes a 30 car train going 30 mph about a mile to stop without using emergency from what I've been told. Even if the crew started slowing down the second they saw something in the tracks (and the probally did), they still would have hit the stump and derailed because of the switch. I'm not a fan of anyone that vandalizes anything. People don't think that there are human beings in the locos that can be hurt or even killed when some SOB pulls something like this. They'll probally never know who did it, but it sure would be cool if they find them. I think their punishment should be to put them between the rails and see if the oncoming tran can stop soon enough.
I'd rather see punishment where it would really get the offenders attention. Make them work a minimum wage job, until every penny of cost is repaid! That would be a very long chore. Boxcab E50
Are we talking a stump.. or a log? I'd like to see a pic of the offending wood. And it's a good thing none of the train went over into that road!
I know that guy... My Dad is a BNSF engineer, and he knows the engineer who was on that train. His name is Ray Vandehofe or something, he lives in Longmont and operates the turn every summer. (In the winter a Colorado and Southern crew runs it) He was back at work in two weeks...
BNSF506- I wonder if they ever caught the jerks who put that stump on the tracks? By chance have you heard? Welcome to TrainBoard! Boxcab E50
Well its 40 there and your coming down grade.The stump was roughly 1000 feet form the switch. It was a BN engineer and a C&S crew working the turn. Technically it should have been a C&S engineer but we wont get into the politics ( thats the biggest mess out there) Before I left and came back to the midwest I heard 2 kids had been caught and they were going to give up the rest of the group. Heres some pics from us running north about one day after the wreck and then south the next day.I was in Cheyenne and was deadheaded home the day of. Enjoy!
Sounds like good news here. I hope it's true. And if so, I hope there is a judge who for once will throw the book at them. Boxcab E50
